Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • 19

Conn Confident of Retaining Title Against Lesnevich 9 'I III and Hit Open The Sun-Telegraph is ir presented an the wene at both the Itillv t'onn-(iu l-esnevich title fight in Detroit tonight and the National Open golf tournament at Cleveland, which gets undrr war tomorrow-. Spurt Editor Harry Keck will be at the Da tit rlnmslile and liolf Editor Tom Mirks covering the local pro at Canterbury. lu Harry Keck SPORTS EOlTOfJ WEDNESDAY. JINK 5. 1940 BEST TOR SPORTS PAGE NINETEEN Conn and Lesnevich Fighting In Detroit Tonight to End All Conn and Lesnevich Battles If DETROIT, June 5.

Remember the story about the writer who couldn't eet a break because her stories didn't 7 jump off with enough zip to eaten tne editors eyes uniu 'f. -V i sne nnaiiy ucciucu sue iuui tm and start the next one with: "Hell, said the Dutchess!" Well, I thought I'd get Uncle Mike Jacobs to say something like that today to put a frothy head on a story about his Billy Conn-Gus Lesnevich fight for the light-heavy weight title at the Olympia here tonight. I thought maybe he'd say the winner would be sure to fight Joe Louis, or something like that. But Uncle Mike is not a man to go shooting off his mouth when the weather's hot, and, brother, if you think it's hot in Pittsburgh, you 1 4- 5 v-wi i MIKE JACOBS 0Ught to be here. Uncle Mike set 1 record for overstatement when he said: rt- if PITTSBURGH'S FIRST MGHT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMEt THE FORBES FIELD SETTING DURING THE FIFTH INNING Sficoilt'siy PIiols "We'll see after the fight" As for both Conn and Lesnevich and their handlers, they were glad of two things.

One was that they're finally getting this jinxed fight out of the way, after two postponements, one in Miami in February and the other one here in April, due to Conn's afflictions of boils, and the other that the fight is scheduled for only 15 and not 20 rounds indoors. Johnny Ray, Conn's manager, said when Commissioner John Hettche started to yell about making it a 20-rounder that both fighters would die fighting 20 rounds indoors on a hot night. Briggs Stadium, the only outdoor arena, would have been available except for the very sufficient reason that Walter Briggs, the owner, wouldn't let the promoters use the home of the Detroit Tigers for the fight. Cus Wasn't Tough in First Meeting Odds on the battle are very slightly in Conn's favor, reflecting the fact that he hasn't impressed the local fans in his workouts as much as the more serious-minded lenger. Billy has been good one day and lackadaisical the next, while Lesnevich, with the chance of a lifetime before him, has been very diligent in every phase of his training, from his roadwork at dawn each day down to the last punch he threw at his sparring partners.

Meanwhile Billy has been going to the ball games and police shooting ranges and other places where he could have some fun, his main worry being to get down to the title weight of 175 pounds. Both Conn and Manager Ray are satisfied that they're let and that tonight's fight will be a carbon copy of the first meeting between Billy and Lesnevich, in New York's Madison Square Garden, last November 17, when, some 10 weeks after winning the title from Melio Bettina, Billy placed it on the line for the White Russian from (h-7 CO. Pirates Rout Bees, 14 to lK Under Lights lly II AUI I J. DOYLE Plavers were' resting and more i 1 than 20,000 sun dodger fans were buw.lng today in the wake of Pittsburgh's first night baseball game a 'contest, by the way, which brought the Pirates a onesided victory over the Boston Bees. IjiJ.

Driving the new white halls to all sections of the floodlighted Hi-Id, the Buccot swamped the lives, 14 to 2. with Big Joe Bow-man holding the Invaders to five hits. The multitude numbering 20.319 fans thoroughly enjoyed the noc 'wwwf I': i 1 If 111, turnal brand of the diamond sport, although the attendance was oft, the park being a little mora than half filled. But there was another circus In town aside from the Forbes Field show, and there were other things that militated against a heavier flow of traffic through) the turnstiles. The cellar position of the Morales naturally is not conducive to big gates, and the Iters seldom have been a good attraction at the Oakland Orchard.

And fur some reason a report was wafted about to the rtfect that" I. II I. Mil im BUDDY HASSETT ESCAPES BEING NIPPED OFF FIRST BASE mm if i i I Cliffside, N. and had no trouble defending it. In that battle, Lesnevich kept coming, winging punches with both fists as he came, but Billy kept making him miss and spearing him while on the move.

There was no question about the winner, nor about the earnestness of Lesnevich's college try. The fact that Gus is getting tonight's second chance is the tipoff on the paucity of contenders in the division and one of the reasons why Conn doesn't care how soon he outgrows the class and moves on up among the heavyweights. Win or lose tonight, that may be the very thing Billy will do at once. Fighters generally have little trouble getting down to weight in the warm weather, but Billy had plenty of it shaving off the last few pounds for this tussle and his camp did so much squawking about it that Lesnevich's manager accused it of preparing an alibi in the event of defeat. In this connection, it is well known that Conn is Promoter Jacobs' "boy." Even more than the very profitable Joe Louis, Mike has taken Billy the Kid to his heart and would like to see him go on to win the heavyweight title, and he's as sure as shooting that Billy will be able to pack on the necessary poundage within a reasonable time and will be the man to draw the largest gate with Louis.

Scotty Montcith Likes Challenger Uncle Mike has run into an argument on that score out here from Scotty Monteith, a local promoter, who was famous for years as the manager of Johnny Dundee, the lightweight star. Scotty thinks Lesnevich has a better chance of developing into a corking heavyweight than Conn nd also that he has the style to beat Louis. Gus is com tickets were hard to obtain. In any event, a combination of circumstances tended to hold down the size of the gathering, which had been predicted to reach the 30,000 mark. Nevertheless, every body had a good time, the home 5 team victory being the right order for the evening.

i PIRATE ROOKIES SHINE' Maurice Van Robay. Frankle Gustlne and Bob Elliott weighed in wltlua flock of long hits that had the merit of timeliness as they pushed many runs across the platir. III II Official turning on the lights for Pittsburgh's first night major league game. Commissioner K. M.

Landis passed hi hand over a grid glow tube at home plate, and, lo and behold, the lights came on as the fans cheered. At the left is Ford Frick, National League president; at the right, President W. E. Benswanger, of the Bucs. Between Landis and Benswanger is J.

K. B. Hare, of the Westinghouse Company, which installed the lights. And to further enhance the drive of the Buccns. Stengel's Billy Conn 7-5 pitchers were wild and they had to look at a lot of poor support as the battle wore on.

The game took on burlesque features in the eighth as the-Pirates rushed over six runs by taking advantage of three errors, on the part of the Iters. Two -of the misplays were made in sequence and they were durba, to steal a line from the lexicon of the famous Duzzy Vanre. Oustlne scored the sixth run of V- -t' Favorite in Title Bout How They Compare GENE MOORE OUT AT FIRST ON GROUNDER TO GUSTINE by DOYLE row the round with two out after hitting a tap toward Hassett, Frankle ConttBn4 Fmt Twenty.) 'il yttrn. Tiie score of the spectacle will be forgotten by some of us before the no iMtunat. ti 71 'j inrhrs, l.hMNKMC .46 yrr uouutlK llrlKlit 1 II.

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tni-hPii t. 15 Inched firnnn. I'i Ini-hrH day is over, but the memory of pactly Duut and is rugged and a good hitter, somewhat resembling Jack Dillon, the old giant killer from Indianapolis. "There," says Monteith, "is the style of a man to beat Louis. Let Lesnevich build up to 190 or 200 pounds and he'll beat any of the heavyweights.

Conn? No. He's not the type, Too tall and frail and fancy. And he stands straight up. The type Louis kills. Billy is a great boxer, and lie might make Louis look silly for a while, but it would be just a question of time before Joe would catch up with him and tag him.

And I'll take Lesnevich in this fight tonight, too." When Uncle Mike says he'll see about the future after tonight's right, he may be Inferring more than appears on the coat sleeve. may be figuring on tossing the winner in with Louis either this year or next, right here in Detroit. Ho hasn't forgotten that Louis nd Bob Pastor drew $362,000 for their bout here last fall. And he Knows that you don't pet gates of that sort in a hay or grain store. At the moment, Uncle Mike has some other thincs to worry bout.

He never carries all of his hen fruit in one basket, and he has a busy schedule of big matches on the fire right now. He'll be back in New York for his Buddy Baer-Valentln Campolo flsht in tlie Garden tomorrow night, and on June 20 he has Joe Louis fighting, or something, Arturo Godoy again at the Yankee Stadium. Tony Galento and Max Baer fight, for Jacobs and country and Mayor Hague In Jersey City on July 2 and Henry Armstrong and I-w Jenkins are paired for a non-title bout in New York on July 17. The winner of that fight will meet Stev Reiiois fnr in Hit Inchon. Pittsburgh's first night baseball HI inchfN.

Ilf'-il liM he. Night Clubbers! LAST NIGHT'S SCORE game will be a pleasant one a a. A. K. la Jnrht'N.

SI '2 InrhM. 20 Tni'hfu. 14 lnrhft. tni het. 7 nrhfl.

11 imhp.lTrue, It Is circus stuff, this Mac- 1,,... lull lnrhrl, Phail version of the national game, SUSS but the fans like it Whether siotl. 2b 4 llaxartt, lb they like It well enough to ask for a bigger portion than seven games By HARRY KECK Sport Kdllnr. 11 1 It II a 4 a 1 It I A ft 4 a 1 DETROIT. June 5.

Billy Conn's vivir rt Kf. It 4 itrrlnrllA. 3lt 4 w.tt.lnnuiii Mlll-r, I allfthvi, 9 hmiri. I Andrewt, 1 rK round light-heavyweight be well patronized. fense battle with Ous Lesnevich Tntl S4 of Cliffside, N.

in Detroit's eYftnai Rf.H A B. itr avi'. Olympia Arena tonight. Billy Is only a 7-to-5 favorite over the sturdy challenger whom Cincinnati and Brooklyn give the fans a much better sideshow In connection with the main event, fireworks, font races and other -features adding to the gaiety of the floodlight frolics in those cities, Mnndlpy, rt P. Wnr, llhan, tlMrhrr, lb Robava, It i.iitlne, 2b Dnvtii, Buwinu, he easily outpointed in New York last November 17.

after winning the championship from Melio Bettina on July 13, stopping Ous August, and, In September, Ken Overlin will give Ceferino Garcia chance to win back the so-called middleweight title. 8o, summed up, this thing here tonight, although Important to the combatants, and undoubtedly a Conn-Lesnevich fieht to end all Conn-Lesnevich fights, even if the contracts do call for Iessy, old boy, to give Billy chance to regain the championship if he loses it in this mill, is just one of Uncle Mike's many one-night stands, and I'm here as a refugee from last night's opening night baseball game at Forbes Field, back home in Pittsburgh, which I thought was very rood indeed. Old Home Week in Preliminaries Women were numerous In last Tntllls .31 14 11 27 IjBICOr Play Here's a funny one perpetrated by the Bees in the wild eighth inning of Pittsburgh's first night game at Forbes Field last night. It showa Gustine, of the Pirates, scoring the sixth run of the with Second Baseman Sisti malting the play at the plate. The Pirates won, 14-2.

The Sun-Telegraph's new Speedray equipment was used for the first time to make then fine action pictures. Dorazio a month later and then beating Bettina in a return bout at Forbes Field six weeks after that. night's audience and the fair sex appeared to be enchanted with the glittering spectacle. GUS DETROIT FAVORITE Judce Landis flew In from Chi cago, but while the baseball com In any other sector they might hold Conn as high as 3 to 1 or missioner is keen for that mode of third Inning which Bowman opened with av single Lopez apparently figured Handley had should have a bad accident the reaction would be terrible." Whether it was the lights or a better to win tonight, but Lesnevich has sold himself to the De travel, he is opposed to air flights: hv hall rltihs Lnnrlift and Fnrrl Welteimttia batlNl lor tmr ta ninth. Ronton Jtl I a I 4 14 run Boim 1, ritlbnfth 11.

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tllw S. KUIutt J. Rlua 4, 1. Vi'uu-r, nil Salla Off Rofrmnn (Mil-Irr, llim-lllj oil I nllnhnn I I Handle); off llnrnlrlr lUrirhrr 1, VaiKlmn)) lf liVtlf Mrlrhrrl. Hulk Hnrnlrl.

III! mill iiltrhnt hall Itarnlrkt 1 lhnlai. Una Off Mnhnn, 4 hlta mid 4 n' In 2 liiuinff ulirfp (nrfit In lhirrtr yi Hnrnlrlr. hll ami 4 run. In lnni; all JiiVFi-v, 4 hlla and runa In I InrXn. 111 nn hnaa luiaii 7, irn'k mil Pv K-mmali iim, Hmi, rallahanll hr allahan I iHnndln)) bf flashed the hit-and-run sign, for PHrit wpfit over this imnnrtnnt.

coincidence the two leadoff bat troit fans with his one-round There's quite a Pittsburghy touch to the entire card tonight. Irish Jimmy Webb, who has won three fights in Pittsburgh In recent months, boxes Willie Pavolick, of New Jersey, in the six-round semifinal i Johnny Durso. formerly of Pittsburgh, now of Louisville, meets Holman Williams, Chicago Negro welterweight, In another six -rounder, and Bob Smith, Pittsburgh Negro heavyweight, who has been helping Conn with his training, Is in with Wee Willie Williams, of Detroit, and Johnny Aicher, of Sharon, one of sparring partners, with Lee Oma, of Detroit, in he took a pitchout and saw Bow knockout victory over Dave Clark, development while they fiat in thelters went out over the strikeout a local Negro title hope, and a Srheniev Hotel last, nleht u. rolnr Into hla eharacteristlo Forbes Field routine Switch Ingr the program from daylight to darkness had no ill effect on the Spanish grandee, who belted a double to left renter with Tony Cueclnello on first hen he came up In the serond inning. Van Robav had a little trouble in playing the hall, and Tony was able to sprint to the plate fnr the first run of the game.

man standing on first Handley then walked and Elliott raused a 10-round decision win in a return i Frick also likes to flv. bur he wild scone tha upset the Bees in a bout. Also with his fine gym-iiuta-warm wer the Dodgers, so ar.KSnd bow- nnn h.mJ .1" I ced made one sig- Handley missed a third strike, SL WJl? 5 a tnon tonei Iwit. Lopez dropped the ball and Billy and Gus were paired for when he said: dramatic manner Epple Miller rushed around behind Bowman to hold htm on second after the fashion of a fielder expecting a i namlrl I (t an (The sports scene changes rapidly in thp snmmertim. Rrtp riD-tn-dste by reading Harry Kerk while on vara (ton.

Have the Sun-Telegraph delivered to your vacation address. Call GRant 6300. No lncreast la cost.) Miami. in February and then ''Ford. If one of olanes "BU I bunt Elliott, however, cut down I.inf piirnr- Ttma tarn- tmiilw-gaardoa.

VMM M4 riaaUi. (OMtuei ea hi TtT4 I esrrylng part of a ball dull Senor Lepea lost time ta Lopti did ruoM wrong In thti.